Chapter 60

In the second quarter, the Pistons’ bench players showed their true strength. With consecutive successful shots and rebounds, they seemed to be proving to head coach John Kuester that they had the capability to start games. By the end of the second quarter, the Pistons led the Raptors 71–47, by 24 points. The fact that the Pistons could score so many points in the first half indicated that the Raptors’ defense was completely overwhelmed. During halftime, John Kuester praised the bench players’ outstanding performance and said that the time ahead still belonged to them. If they could maintain their second-quarter form in future games, they would get more opportunities. Encouraged by Kuester, the Pistons’ bench players were eager to prove themselves to the coach and fans by giving it their all. Soon, the second half began. In the third quarter, the game turned into a stalemate until Pistons’ bench player Austin Daye suddenly hotshot, with Will Bynum passing to him frequently. After scoring 8 points in a row, the Pistons finally took control of the game, entering the final quarter with a 19-point lead. In the final quarter, Will Bynum and Samuel Dalembert both had strong performances—Dalembert scored 10 points inside the paint, while Bynum added 8 points. However, at the last moment, the Raptors’ newly acquired player Leandro Barbosa suddenly erupted again, scoring 9 points in three minutes, showcasing his offensive skills. Unfortunately, it was too late; the Pistons’ bench players completely stifled the Raptors’ starters’ final attempts to fight back. The game ended with a score of 132–120. The Pistons defeated the Raptors by 22 points, and it was the bench players, not the starting lineup, who were the main contributors to their victory. After all, it was the bench players who created most of the opportunities in this game.

Throughout the game, seven players for the Pistons scored in double figures. James Posey scored the most points in the game with 31, which was also his new highest score this season; Will Bynum contributed 22 points, along with 8 assists and 2 steals; Samuel Dalembert had a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds; Austin Daye made 6 out of 7 shots for 13 points; Taylor Hansbrough scored 13 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, nearly hitting a double-double; McGrady played for only about 16 minutes, hitting 4 out of 7 shots for 11 points and 4 assists, while Tychon Prince played for 15 minutes and scored 10 points.

Zhou Yi, on the other hand, played for just 14 minutes and 23 seconds, hitting 3 out of 7 shots for 8 points, along with 7 assists and 2 steals. Such stats were quite impressive considering he played less than 15 minutes.

The Raptors also had five players score in double figures. Leandro Barbosa led the Raptors with 28 points, Andrea Banchero scored 22 points and 8 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in a solid performance; Ed Davis recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, while their starting small forward, Linas Kleiza, also scored 11 points.

Jose Calderon, the Raptors’ starting point guard who faced off against Zhou Yi and Will Bynum, performed excellently in the second half. Although he didn’t score in double figures, finishing with only 8 points, he delivered the most assists in the game with 14. This showed that the Spanish point guard was also highly skilled.

After defeating the Raptors, Zhou Yi and his teammates had three days off. The Pistons players were extremely excited about this. However, head coach John Kuester poured cold water on their enthusiasm. “We’ll have training all three days,” were his exact words.

Upon hearing Kuester’s statement, the Pistons players immediately lost their spirits, especially Will Bynum, who had performed well and been praised by Kuester.

After showering in the visiting team’s locker room, Zhou Yi and his teammates returned to the hotel in the middle of the night. Back at the hotel, Will Bynum and those who enjoyed nightlife went out to have fun. Zhou Yi, on the other hand, stayed in his room by himself, playing on the computer. “I don’t like nightlife,” Zhou Yi muttered while playing on the computer.

Chapter 222: The Bulls Arrive

The morning after the game against the Toronto Raptors, the people from Detroit boarded a private plane to return to Detroit. After returning, Zhou Yi and the others went their own ways. But for Zhou Yi, it was a special day—today he was going to see houses with Xiang Yun. “Hey, is this Xiang Yun?” Zhou Yi dialed her number and asked. “Mm, you’re back?” With no work today, Xiang Yun had just woken up and rushed over to meet him, panting heavily. “Yeah, I’m back. Didn’t you say we were going to see houses today? That’s why I called as soon as I got here. You haven’t gotten up yet, have you?” Zhou Yi asked, frowning. Xiang Yun yawned again, rubbed her eyes, and replied, “I’ve gotten up, just now.” “Uh…” Three lines appeared on Zhou Yi’s forehead as he said, “Okay, I’m at the entrance of the arena now. Hurry over; I’ll wait for you.” “Mm, okay,” Xiang Yun nodded and hung up. Zhou Yi shook his head with a wry smile before entering the Auburn Hills Palace. An hour later, he waited for Xiang Yun at the arena. “Let’s go,” Xiang Yun said, reaching out to take his arm. Zhou Yi frowned and said awkwardly, “Xiang Yun, isn’t this right?” “Pfft, do you think I want to be this close to you? When I helped you look for a house, I told the landlord it was for my boyfriend. She knew me and, hearing it was for her boyfriend, became very attentive. So we still have to act like a couple for now.” Xiang Yun pouted, pretending she didn’t want to do it either. Hearing this, Zhou Yi was speechless. “Oh, okay!” he replied helplessly. And so, Zhou Yi went to see houses with Xiang Yun as her boyfriend. When they arrived, an older woman was already waiting there. To Zhou Yi’s surprise, she was also Chinese. After chatting a bit with the landlord, Zhou Yi went inside to see the house. It was large, a small villa, and well-furnished—Zhou Yi thought it was pretty good. Most importantly, it was close to the arena. But Xiang Yun had already liked this house, so Zhou Yi didn’t examine it closely. Seeing their affectionate behavior, the landlord believed what Xiang Yun had told her before, and treated Zhou Yi very warmly.

After seeing the house, Zhou Yi paid three months’ rent in advance. After discussing things with the landlord for a week, he officially moved in. After finishing these arrangements, Zhou Yi and Xiang Yun left the place. “I didn’t expect you to be quite familiar with that landlord,” Zhou Yi said to Xiang Yun with a smile. “Of course. Didn’t you see how enthusiastic she was toward you? It’s all because of me,” Xiang Yun said, patting her chest. “Uh, okay!” Zhou Yi shrugged helplessly. To show his gratitude to Xiang Yun, he took her to a Chinese restaurant for a hearty meal. After lunch, the two parted ways. … … “Today, we’ll face the Chicago Bulls again. Last time we played them, we lost. But back then we were on their home court, while this time we’re at home. So I hope everyone will give it their all to avenge that loss,” John Kuster said, standing in the middle of the locker room and addressing his players. “Understood,” the Pistons players replied loudly. Seeing their enthusiastic attitude, John Kuster nodded in satisfaction. “This time against Derrick Rose, I must stop him!” Zhou Yi said firmly to Will Bynum sitting next to him. This year’s Bulls team has a very strong lineup. Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer are both All-Star-level players, with Rose even on his way to becoming a superstar. Ron Artest ranks among the top 15 centers in the league. Joakim Noah is an excellent blue-collar player, a great rebounder, and also a strong defender. Ty Gibson is a promising rookie who is highly efficient. Kyle Korver is an outstanding shooter. Ronnie Brewer is a fierce defender. The other Bulls players are also very good, so for the Pistons, the Bulls are a tough opponent—extremely tough. Despite the Pistons’ excellent recent performance, with 17 consecutive wins that shocked everyone, they still couldn’t afford to be careless. The Pistons are slightly weaker inside than the Bulls, and they’re not much stronger outside either. Therefore, they don’t seem to have many advantages in this game.

However, the Pistons have a significant advantage: home-court advantage. Moreover, this game is another back-to-back away game for the Bulls, who lost their last match to the New York Knicks, so the Pistons hold a certain edge in terms of stamina and morale.

At 5:40 p.m. on December 26, 2010, the Auburn Hills Palace, which can seat around 20,000 people, was packed to capacity—temporary seats were even set up in the aisles. These fans were there with great excitement, waiting for Zhou Yi’s performance and the showmanship of Zhou Yi and Tracy McGrady, the golden duo.

Seeing the Pistons’ No. 1 and No. 37 players reminded Detroit fans of the “Bad Boys” era, reigniting their hopes for a championship. Zhou Yi and McGrady represent the future of the new Pistons dynasty; he will gradually become a leader among league point guards. To watch Zhou Yi play in every game, they bought season tickets and arrived early at the Auburn Hills Palace just for him. For these fans, watching their favorite team and player after a day of hard work is an immense joy.

“Alright, guys, it’s time to get on the court!” John Kuester walked into the home team’s locker room with a smile, followed by several assistant coaches, all dressed in formal attire.

Most of the Pistons’ players had already regained their peak stamina and were in top form, as they didn’t, like the visiting Chicago Bulls, have three days of rest.

The lights on the court dimmed, and as the DJ’s music played and the bright lights shone down, the Pistons’ bench players rushed out from the tunnel. The DJ gave a detailed introduction to them.

Next were the Pistons’ starters, with Zhou Yi at the end of the line. The moment Zhou Yi stepped onto the court, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers. He politely bowed to the audience and waved his arms at them.

Meanwhile, the visiting team’s players were already on the court practicing shots. When Derek Rose saw Zhou Yi appear and the reaction from the crowd, he smirked and continued warming up on his own.

Players from both teams were on the court doing pre-game warm-ups, preparing for the upcoming match. After about ten minutes, the starting lineups for both sides were displayed on the large screen. For the Bulls, the number one player was naturally their leader, Derrick Rose; the number two was Keith Bogans, who was also the weakest player on the Bulls, allowing the Pistons to cause trouble in this position. The number three was Roy Dunleavy, number four was Carlos Boozer, and number five was Joakim Noah. On the home side, the Pistons had point guard Zhou Yi, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, small forward Tashawn Prince, power forward Greg Monroe, and center Ben Wallace. In every aspect, the Bulls’ lineup seemed stronger than the Pistons’, but the Pistons had the psychological advantage and home-court advantage, and their strength wasn’t much weaker than the Bulls’. As a result, the Pistons didn’t show any signs of being intimidated; instead, they maintained a very calm attitude. “Fans, the game is about to start. Both teams’ players have arrived at the center circle to prepare for the jump ball,” the commentator shouted excitedly to the crowd. Joakim Noah won the jump ball against Greg Monroe and passed the ball to Derrick Rose, initiating the Bulls’ first offensive play and officially kicking off the match. Carlos Boozer got into an excellent position at the low post and reached for the ball from Derrick Rose, who passed it to him without hesitation. Against Boozer’s aggressive play at the low post, it was clearly impossible for a rookie like Greg Monroe to defend him. Fortunately, John Kuester knew the power of Boozer’s one-on-one plays at the low post and had arranged for someone to help defend him before the game, so Ben Wallace left Joakim Noah to assist Greg Monroe in defense.

Carlos Boozer had delicate yet powerful skills, a strong physique combined with agility. He was best known for his four signature moves: first, the mid-range jump shot; second, the drive-and-kick; third, the layup; and fourth, his most formidable and iconic move—the post play. Boozer usually opted to take on defenders one-on-one at a 45-degree angle near the basket. After receiving a pass near the rim, he could face the defender directly to assess the situation. If encountering a defender with slow footwork, he would bend down, use the defender’s body as a shield to drive to the basket for a dunk or layup. Alternatively, he could push against the defender, inch his way toward the basket, then turn and shoot a jump shot or layup with a slight backswing—his shooting percentage inside the basket was a staggering 65.8%.

Boozer easily bypassed Greg Monroe, but when he saw Ben Wallace coming to help, he remained calm and passed the ball to Joakim Noah before moving to the other side. Soon, the ball was back in Boozer’s hands, and he used Noah’s screen to dunk for two points.

Ben Wallace and Greg Monroe only recovered after Boozer completed his attack, marveling at his agility.

Zhou Yi orchestrated the offense, with Maddie receiving the ball at the top of the key. Holding the ball in one hand and stepping forward with his right foot, Maddie immediately charged toward the opponent’s interior. Though no longer at his peak, his ability to read the game ranked among the top in the league, so he still managed to draw double-team defense. Seeing the double-team coming, Maddie waved his arm, and the ball went to Teyshawn Prince at the 45-degree angle outside the three-point line on the right. Perhaps still warming up, Prince’s three-point attempt hit the backboard and was secured by Joakim Noah, who was standing under the basket.

Derrick Rose took control of the ball, prompting boos from the crowd. However, Rose paid it no mind. He slowly made his way across the court. Facing Zhou Yi’s defense, he dashed in from the right side. By the time Zhou Yi reacted, he collided with a dark figure—Carlos Boozer, who had stepped in for a screen. Using Boozer’s screen, Rose drove straight to the basket and scored.

Zhou Yi dribbled the ball, and enthusiastic applause and cheers filled the arena. Halfway through the game, when Greg Monroe was about to get into position, Zhou Yi still passed the ball to him—this was a tactic devised by John Kuester to break through from the inside first. Greg Monroe tried to force a play against Carlos Boozer but didn’t shoot instead, passing the ball hand-to-hand to Ben Wallace on the other side. At that moment, Joakim Noah was trapped behind by Ben Wallace’s strong frame. After receiving the ball, Ben Wallace pushed backward and attempted a layup, but the ball bounced out of the basket; Carlos Boozer grabbed the rebound.

Zhou Yi watched Derek Rose ahead of him with a serious expression. No one could underestimate Derek Rose’s power—Zhou Yi had realized this already during their first encounter. Those who had dismissed him had suffered the consequences. Although this was only Derek Rose’s third season, he had been selected for All-Star Game in his second season, which demonstrated his terrifying skill.

Zhou Yi did his best to defend Rose, but to his surprise, even though he could sense Derek Rose’s breakthrough route, he was still broken through by him. After breaking into the paint, instead of passing the ball despite Greg Monroe’s defensive effort, Derek Rose used a very unusual shooting technique after making physical contact with Greg Monroe—neither a pull-up nor a regular shot. The ball went in as the buzzer sounded; Greg Monroe committed a defensive foul, and Derek Rose easily made the free throw, turning a two-on-one situation into a three-on-one.

In the subsequent battle, the Bulls took some initiative. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah succeeded in attacking the paint repeatedly, while Derek Rose also made frequent breakthroughs from outside. Rolando Blackman also hit several long-range shots. On the Pistons’ side, aside from Teyshon Prince hitting a mid-range jump shot, Zhou Yi scoring a layup, and Tracy McGrady making a three-pointer, the Pistons failed to score anything else offensively.